She put her arms around his neck. “I could call Samuel. Put this off until tomorrow.”

“There is nothing I would like better.” He placed her back on her feet. “But every hour we linger puts us both at risk. I will not let them take you again.”

“The same goes for you.” When he glanced away, she grabbed the front of his jacket. “I mean it, Walker. There is no more you or me. There’s only us.”

He pulled her close. “I don’t think I could let you go anyway.”

Under the frosty blue sky, they drove from the diner south toward the park Samuel had specified.

“According the map, it’s just around the corner.” Lilah looked through the windshield and spotted a sign by the entrance to an empty parking lot. “There,” she said, pointing. “Denver Botanic Gardens. This is it.”

Walker drove past the lot and parked the Land Rover at the next curb. He got out and came around to her door before she could do the same. “If anything seems amiss, I want you to give me a signal.”

“You can trust Samuel.” She tucked her hair out of sight under her cap, saw his face, and sighed. “Okay. If I think something’s going wrong, I’ll say, ‘I’m a big fan of the Broncos.’ ”

He frowned. “How is that a signal?”

“Because I’m not,” she reminded him.

They paid the ticket booth attendant and were reminded to stay on the garden paths.

“Do you have a brochure for the Henry Moore exhibit?” Lilah asked, and thanked him when he handed one over. She looked through it, checking the map on the back, and then pointed past the gift shop. “It’s down that way.”

Except for some employees emptying waste cans and sweeping the walks, the park was deserted. He put his hands in his pocket, the right hand bulging. Lilah knew he was gripping the hilt of the dagger he had taken from Lori’s cache, but she kept quiet. He had been through war and God knew what else; of course he wouldn’t like walking unarmed into the unknown.

He just doesn’t know how well armed he is with me. Lilah spotted the flowing bronze sculpture of the reclining mother and child, and two men standing a short distance away from it. One wore a standard chauffeur’s uniform, and looked ordinary, but the blond, bearded man towering over him could only be called a hulking giant.

“There they are. Samuel.” She lifted a hand, and smiled as the big man returned the gesture with one black glove. She glanced at Walker. “Looks like we’re home free.”

He slowed his pace, scanning the area around the men before he said, “So it seems.”

Lilah was startled to see that Samuel dragged one of his legs, and had to use a cane to make his way toward them. His driver also walked with a hand under Samuel’s arm, providing additional support.

“Delilah.” Samuel’s exotic black eyes took in her face as his silky blond beard framed a pirate’s grin. “I’m very happy to see you.”

“Hello, Samuel.” Facing the man she’d spent so many hours chatting with online made her feel a little shy, and she shifted closer to Walker. “Thanks for rescuing us.”

“My pleasure.” The smile dimmed a notch as he turned and held out his gloved hand. “I’m Samuel Taske.”

As soon as Walker took his hand, Samuel’s driver released his arm and grabbed Lilah. She fought but couldn’t break free of his hold, and then went still as she saw Samuel pressing a gun under Walker’s chin. “Samuel, what are you doing?”

“I’m saving your life, sweetheart. Don’t even think about it,” he said to Walker. “The gun is loaded with copper rounds. Ten of them.” He changed the angle of the gun. “But from what I’ve been told, one through the spinal cord should be enough.”

“No, Samuel, no.” She lunged again, but the driver laced his arms through the backs of hers. “Listen to me. Don’t shoot him. He’s one of us.”

“He’s been lying to you, sweetheart. The real Walker Kimball is here in Denver, but he’s in an intensive care unit recovering from serious injuries sustained in the Middle East.” Samuel tilted his head. “I thought this impostor was merely a thug for hire who stole his identity to get to you. But you’re much more than that, aren’t you, vampire?”

Lilah wanted to scream. “For God’s sake, Samuel, have you lost your mind? He’s not a vampire. Stop it.”

“Release her,” Walker said, his voice thickening to a growl.

Samuel’s mouth flattened. “Findley, take her to the car.”

Lilah saw Walker’s face moving, bulging and constricting beneath the skin, as if his rage was reshaping it. His black hair rose like a halo, bristling and extending, the ends paling into a glittering silver. His lips darkened and thinned, peeling back from his white teeth, which narrowed and lengthened into rows of pointed fangs.

Unnerved by the transformation, Samuel shuffled back, almost stumbling before he tightened his grip on the gun. “James, get her out of here. Now.”

When the driver tried to drag her away, Lilah stomped on his instep as hard as she could and jerked free, almost falling over as she ran back to Walker. The man she loved had become almost unrecognizable, his body swelling and tearing the seams of his clothes, thick, silver black fur pelting the backs of his hands and the wide muzzle that had once been his face. As she reached him, he pushed her behind him, and she saw five huge talons stretching out of his clublike fingers.

Samuel lowered the gun. “Del, get away from him. Run.” He hobbled forward, shouting, “Hey,” as he lifted his cane above his head.

Walker swept out his arm, knocking Samuel away with one blow. The big man flew twenty feet before he landed and collapsed.

Lilah ran in front of her lover, barring his path to Samuel. “Walker.” She met his furious gaze, and reached into him, searching through the nightmare of images in his mind until she found the remnant of the man she loved. I’m here. I’m not hurt. You don’t have to kill him.

He seized her by the arms, his talons cutting through her coat and into her flesh. The beast inside him wanted only to kill, to tear Samuel apart, to drink his blood and gnaw on his bones.

You are not a monster, Lilah told him. You are a man. You can control the beast.

He bared his fangs, lowering his head and releasing a low, ugly growl.

Lilah’s hands shook as she pressed them to his monstrous face. Walker, please. You have to fight it or you’ll kill someone. You’ll kill me.

The beast peered at her, and loosened its grip. He lowered his shaggy head and sniffed at the rents in her sleeves.

“Yes,” she whispered, pulling his head close and feeling his flesh shifting against her cheek. “It’s all right. It’s over now.”

“I’ve never been much of a dog lover,” a cool voice said from behind them. “I think it’s the hair. It gets on everything.”

Chapter 21

Lilah felt something stab into the base of her neck, and clapped her hand over a chambered dart. She spun around to see a slim brunette dressed in an impeccable business suit, who stood flanked on either side by four men with automatic weapons.

Lilah’s head began to spin, and she felt Walker’s arms wrapping around her.

“Leave us alone,” he said, his voice still distorted.

“It talks, too.” The woman shifted the tranquilizer gun in her hand, aiming for Walker’s chest. “That should convince my buyer to add a few more zeros to my check.”

Something swung at the brunette—a baseball bat—and knocked the gun out of her hand.

A tall woman with white hair parked the bat on her shoulder. “I wouldn’t cash it just yet, sweetie.” She turned as one of the brunette’s men fired at her, but instead of falling to the ground, she merely glared. “Hey, dumbass. You’re making holes in my favorite jacket.”

The gunman aimed for her head, and then froze and looked down as thousands of grubs erupted around his feet and began inching up his legs. He screamed and danced, dropping his gun to beat at them with his hands.

As Walker swept Lilah up in his arms, she heard shots being fired, and someone shouting furiously in French. Then he was running, the park blurring around them as he dodged around trees and leapt over obstacles.

She hung on to him with desperate hands, fighting to stay conscious as the powerful drugs began to paralyze her limbs. A huge truck roared to a stop in front of them, and through blurry eyes she saw Ethan Jemmet jump out and fire a shotgun at something past them. The back door flung open, and Nathan leaned out.

“Get in,” he shouted at Walker as the sheriff continued to fire.

Lilah’s vision fogged as Walker handed her in to Nathan, who slid over and supported her head with his arm.

“Ethan, I’ve got them.” Nathan looked down at Lilah. “Is she wounded?”

She tried to say no, but his scars distracted her, and she marveled at how they glowed, like streaks of molten silver in the moonlight. Then she was in Walker’s arms, and he was shaking her and saying her name.

The last thing she heard was Ethan telling them to hold on, and then there was nothing.

Gabriel returned from pursuing the rogue to find Nicola helping a large human male to his feet.

“Easy.” She handed the man a cane, which he used to brace himself, and checked the gash in his side. “This looks painful, but it’s not too deep. You probably won’t need stitches.” She glanced at Gabriel. “They got away?”

“Yes, and they had help.” He saw Valori hurrying toward them. “The others?”

“They took off after them.” Nick scowled up at the human. “Now, how did you get mixed up in this, Sasquatch?”

“I was walking in the gardens and I heard a woman scream,” he said, grimacing as he leaned heavily on his cane. “I thought I could assist her.”

“So you’re just a Good Samaritan in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She shook her head and said to Gabriel, “This one is lying, so we’ll assume he’s in cahoots with Little Miss Turncoat and her happy band of shooters.” She bent down, retrieved a gun, and checked the chambers. “Copper rounds. Goddamn it.” She dumped them out onto the grass before snapping the chamber back into place. “Someone knows we’re here.” She brought the gun to her nose, and then glared at the human male. “This is yours.”